Public adjusters in Warren, Michigan.
After the August 11, 2014 storm, Warren counted more than 18,000 flood-damaged homes and the mayor put the damage at $1.2 billion. Two in three homes here were built before 1970, on a sewer system designed for about 2 inches of rain, so a hard storm still ends up in basements and the cost starts below grade.
AdjustFair works only for the policyholder, from our Ferndale office, about 7 miles from the middle of Warren. We read the policy, document the full loss, price the repair the way a contractor would have to build it, and put that number in front of the insurance company with the proof behind it.
Where claims here get underpaid.
Warren claims tend to fall into three groups, and the shortfall in each one shows up in a different place.
- Sewage in the basement. The city says its system was built to take about 2 inches of rain over several hours, and in a single recent year three storms overwhelmed it and flooded basements. When a payment stops at the sewer backup limit, ask whether part of the water came from a break in the home's own drain line, which the policy can treat differently. A short plumber's note often settles that question, so it has to describe what the plumber actually found.
- Fire and smoke in 1950s and 1960s houses. About two thirds of Warren homes were built before 1970. Smoke moves through older framing, wall cavities and ductwork well past the room that burned, and an estimate that only cleans what is visibly black leaves the rest of the house behind. The money is lost in the number of line items, not the unit prices.
- Commercial and industrial buildings. Warren is home to the GM Technical Center and the Detroit Arsenal, and in the 2014 flood the Tech Center closed and City Hall took on water. On a commercial building the first estimate often covers the finishes that can be seen and stops short of the walls, ceilings and building systems behind them, so those need to be opened and documented.
The contents were priced as cleanable. Appraisal called them a total loss.
Water backed up into a Sterling Heights home and stood across the lower floor. The first offer treated what it had touched as cleanable. Appraisal disagreed.
Questions we get here.
My Warren basement backed up again in a heavy rain. Is the sewage covered?
Sometimes, and it depends on the policy and the source of the water. Backup through a floor drain is usually a separate endorsement with its own limit, and water that came in over the ground is flood, which normally needs its own policy. Keep the photos, the plumber's findings and the damaged materials until the claim is documented.
Can you help with a Warren business or industrial building?
Yes, on the physical damage to the building and what is in it. Commercial losses in Warren often involve large floor areas, mechanical and electrical systems and specialty finishes that a quick estimate skips. We document the building as it actually stands and price what it takes to restore it, then present that to the insurance company.
How fast can someone reach a Warren property?
Warren sits about 7 miles from our Ferndale office, so it is a short trip for us. Call the number on this page and you will speak with someone who can explain the next steps and set a time for an adjuster to see the damage.
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